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Verdict

2017 Ford Taurus: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2017 Ford Taurus — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.

Owners filed 43 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 50% of 2017 sedans. Electrical System leads the reports (21%). 4 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2017 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

43

Reports to NHTSA, 2017

Safety recalls

4

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

20

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 50% of 2017 sedans

The bar is this car's percentile among 2017 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (21% of 43 reports), followed by unknown or other (21%).

Electrical System21% · 9 reports
Unknown Or Other21% · 9 reports
Structure14% · 6 reports
Engine7% · 3 reports
Steering7% · 3 reports
Air Bags5% · 2 reports
Exterior Lighting5% · 2 reports
Fuel/Propulsion System5% · 2 reports

+ 6 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 43 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11688671, ODI 11673173, ODI 11446049, ODI 11434574, ODI 11229273.

Recalls(4)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

StructureDec 2025 · 25V611000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.

SuspensionOct 2020 · 20V072000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

Electrical SystemJan 2018 · 18V141000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Risk: If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.

Steering · 17V530000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.

Risk: If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2017 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

2017 Ford Taurus 4 DR FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Taurus FWD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive202923
Taurus FWD FFV3.5L 6-cylFront-Wheel Drive182721
Taurus FWD3.5L 6-cylFront-Wheel Drive182721
Taurus AWD FFV3.5L 6-cylAll-Wheel Drive172419
Taurus AWD3.5L 6-cylAll-Wheel Drive162419
Taurus AWD3.5L 6-cylAll-Wheel Drive172419

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2017 Ford Taurus: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2017 Ford Taurus?

Owners filed 43 NHTSA complaints about the 2017 Ford Taurus — fewer complaints than 50% of comparable 2017 sedans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2017 Ford Taurus?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (21% of complaints) and unknown or other (21%).

How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Taurus have?

4 recalls have been issued that affect the 2017 Ford Taurus, covering components such as structure. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Taurus get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Ford Taurus between 19 and 23 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.